Paddling the Mission Reach

May 22, 2011 4:16 AM

Tom Melee and his dog, Wigger, paddle on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River to find out if it is accessible by canoe or kayak on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The San Antonio River Authority organized the trial run.

Tom Melee and his dog, Wigger, paddle on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River to find out if it is accessible by canoe or kayak on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The San Antonio River Authority organized

Kenneth Bennight maneuvers a small dam while Tom Melee and his dog, Wigger (left) and Randy Hohlaus (right) watch. The men were paddling on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River on Saturday, May 21, 2011, to see if it is accessible by canoe or kayak. The San Antonio River Authority organized the trial run.

Kenneth Bennight maneuvers a small dam while Tom Melee and his dog, Wigger (left) and Randy Hohlaus (right) watch. The men were paddling on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River on Saturday, May

Kenneth Bennight maneuvers a small dam while Tom Melee and his...photo-1028792.15283 - |ucfirst

Craig Norris plays in the currents created by a chute on a small dam on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River as he tries to find out if the river is accessible by canoe or kayak on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The San Antonio River Authority organized the trial run.

Craig Norris plays in the currents created by a chute on a small dam on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River as he tries to find out if the river is accessible by canoe or kayak on Saturday, May

Craig Norris plays in the currents created by a chute on a small...photo-1028793.15283 - |ucfirst

Craig Norris drops over a dam as he paddles on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River to see if it is accessible by canoe or kayak on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The San Antonio River Authority organized the trial run.

Craig Norris drops over a dam as he paddles on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River to see if it is accessible by canoe or kayak on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The San Antonio River Authority

Tom Melee (left) carries his kayak over the dam with his dog, Wigger, while Craig Norris (center) plays in the currents created by the dam after dropping over it, next to Scott Rote (right), as they paddle on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River to find out if it is accessible by canoe or kayak on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The San Antonio River Authority organized the trial run. Norris is the only one who was able to make it over the dam.

Tom Melee (left) carries his kayak over the dam with his dog, Wigger, while Craig Norris (center) plays in the currents created by the dam after dropping over it, next to Scott Rote (right), as they paddle on

Tom Melee (left) carries his kayak over the dam with his dog,...photo-1028789.15283 - |ucfirst

Tom Melee, with his dog Wigger, paddles on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River to see if it is accessible by canoe or kayak Saturday. The San Antonio River Authority organized the trial run.

Tom Melee, with his dog Wigger, paddles on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River to see if it is accessible by canoe or kayak Saturday. The San Antonio River Authority organized the trial run.

Photo: Lisa Krantz/Express-News

Tom Melee, with his dog Wigger, paddles on the Mission Reach...photo-1028790.15283 - |ucfirst

Tom Melee and his dog, Wigger, paddle on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River to find out if it is accessible by canoe or kayak on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The San Antonio River Authority organized the trial run.

Tom Melee and his dog, Wigger, paddle on the Mission Reach portion of the San Antonio River to find out if it is accessible by canoe or kayak on Saturday, May 21, 2011. The San Antonio River Authority organized